Coyotes take 3-1 series lead on Predators

Associated Press

May 4, 2012

Photo: Frederick Breedon

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NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 04: Sergei Kostitsyn #74 of the Nashville Predators collides with Keith Yandle #3 of the Phoenix Coyotes in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena on May 2, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) less

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 04: Sergei Kostitsyn #74 of the Nashville Predators collides with Keith Yandle #3 of the Phoenix Coyotes in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup ... more

Photo: Frederick Breedon

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The Predators' Paul Gaustad gets the upper hand on the Coyotes' Kyle Chipchura during the first period.

The Predators' Paul Gaustad gets the upper hand on the Coyotes' Kyle Chipchura during the first period.

Photo: Frederick Breedon

Coyotes take 3-1 series lead on Predators

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Shane Doan scored in the first period, Mike Smith made 25 saves and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 on Friday night to grab a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

By winning their first game in the month of May, the Coyotes can advance to the conference finals with a win in Game 5 on Monday night in Arizona.

The Predators played with forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn scratched for a second straight game, this time the decision by coach Barry Trotz to stick with the lineup that won 2-0 on Wednesday night.

They sorely missed their offense, though Nashville thought it tied it with 7:12 remaining.

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But officials waved off the power-play goal because a whistle blew before the puck crossed the goal line.

The Predators wound up outshooting Phoenix 25-24, but they had chances with the net open they simply missed with Radulov and Kostitsyn on the sideline. Radulov leads Nashville with a team-high six points in the postseason, and Kostitsyn is tied for the team lead with three goals. Fans cheered the announcement that the two were scratched after they were suspended for Game 3 for an apparent curfew violation last weekend in Arizona.

Nashville had plenty of chances, outshooting Phoenix 10-5 in the third.